Tube holder and dispenser with pivotally mounted tube-squeezing member



June 1953 w. J. c|1 APMAN ETAL TUBE HOLDER AND D SPENSER WITH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TUBE-SQUEEZING MEMBER med Jan 11, 1951 22 INVENTORS WILLIAM J GHAPMA/V WARREN E. REIT? ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1953 TUBE HOLDER OFFICE TED-TUBE-SQUEEZ San Antonio, and

Warren-Emanuel Ree, L .F a. Tex. Application January 11 1951', Serial N .205,502

" Chime (01. 222-103) The present invention relates to a toothpaste holder, and more particularly to a devicev for holding a tube of toothpaste in position ready for the easy dispensing of the paste when needed.

An object of the present inventionis to provide atoothpaste tube holder so constructed and designed that various sizes of toothpaste tubes can be held in dispensing position. 7 q

A further object of the present invention is to provide a toothpaste tube holder which is Figure 3 is an enlarged detail showing the beveled pivot pin of the tube squeezing membeiv of the" tube squeezer device.

Referring vnow to the drawing, the numeral generally represents the tube squeezer'deviceforcollapsible tubes comprising the present-ineconomical to manufacture and is preferably 7 molded from any suitable plastics such as the methyl methacrylate resins.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a tube squeezer which is made entirely from plastics and may be molded in two separate pieces which are constructed and designed for easy assembly.

Still another object is to provide a toothpaste tube supporting device which in operation is adapted to dispense substantially all .of ...the toothpaste from the tube without waste. Y

Yetanother object is to provide a toothpaste tube holder which is designed to be removably secured to a wall, or the like, while holding the tubeof paste in a position'ready for easy dispensing of the paste.

Yet another object of the present invention is toprovide a squeezer device for. collapsible tubes containing toothpaste, shaving cream, or

the like, comprising, a baseplate, two opposite- 1y disposed side walls extending from said base plate, an elongatedtube squeezing member runi ning lengthwise of said baseplate, said. tube squeezing member being pivotally securedto said.

side walls, said, tube. squeezing member being curved at the non-pivoted end thereof, an end. wall extending from said base plate and bein provided with an aperture, and said base plate being apertured at the endportion thereof upposite said end wall for,securing..the squeezer... device to a suitable support by means of screws,.

suction cups, or the like. 7

Other and further, objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following description thereof and from the claims appended thereto I a In the drawing wherein like numerals refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views; v

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tube squeezer device embodying the features of the present 7 invention;

20 is curvedas shown at 24. The curved portion 24 is of such a curvature that it snugly engages Figure ,2 is asectional side elevation of the tube squeezer device shown in Figure 1; and

-tendfrom said base plate Ill,

vention, and includes a base plate H which is rectangular in shape, and is provided with extending flanges l2 on'both' sides thereof-which are adapted to keep the main body of the device The base a is further provided with a; rib lii exspaced from a wall or other support. plate ll tending across the upper face thereof, which rib It has on either side thereofrecesses. l4 and 15..

Two-oppositely disposedside wallslt and I1 exwith apertures l8 and I9.

Anelongated tube squeezing member 28 runs lengthwise of the base plate 1 I I,

closed position overlies -;the same. Said "tube squeezing member is provided at one end thereof with an enlarged rounded portion 2|, whichin the base plate The rounded portion 2! which is disposed overlies the recessed portion l4 H. atone end of the tube squeezing member .2il; is

provided at the opposite sides thereof. with pivot pins 22 and 23 which are adapted to engage in the apertures l8 and I9-to pivotally support the tube squeezing-member 20 in the side walls i6 and I? so that-the tube squeezing member 26 is swingable. The apertures itandiil are larger .2 inarea than the; area of. the pivot pins 22 and 23-so that the tube squeezing member 28 is per mitted some upward and downward independentmotion when thedevice is positioned upright, other than the pivota1 movement. tube of toothpaste is, inserted in the tube holder When the of the present-invention it will lift the squeezer memberupwardly to position the pivot pins 22 and 23 at-the top of apertures l8 and i9. The

tube squeezing member 26 is adapted to swing against the tube to express ,or squeeze the contents from the'dispensing end of said tube and is adaptedto be held initially in. elevated position by the full portion of the tube so that the pivot elements 22 and 23 will be initially disposed in" the upper portions of the apertures I8 and IS, with said pi-ns gradually moving downwardly in said apertures as the come less. g

The other end of the tube squeezing member a tube of toothpaste-25 at the closure end thereof, a so that. in operation substantially all the conand are.- provided.

- and in fully contents of the tube betents of the toothpaste tube may be dispensed therefrom.

At the end of the base plate, away from the side walls It and [1, there is provided an end wall 26 which extends from the base plate on the same side thereof as the side walls I6 and Il. The end wall 16 is provided with an enlarged and beveled aperture 21, which is adapted to receive therethrough the closure cap 25a of the collapsible tube 25, so that upon removal of the closure cap 25a the paste dispensing end of the tube 25 extends through said aperture 21. It is to be noted that the aperture 21 is considerably larger in area than the area of the closure cap 25a which will permit the employment of tubes of different sizes in the tube squeezing device, and at the same time it is to be noted that the enlarged and beveled aperture 21 permits the tube 25 to engage therein and to work inwardly towards the base plate I I as the paste is dispensed therefrom, so that substantially all the paste can be removed from the tube 25, and the tube then being positioned substantially parallel and flat against the base plate II.

The base plate H is provided at the other end thereof opposite from end wall 26 with a reinforcing member 28 which has two openings therethrough, which openings are at an angle from the perpendicular, and are adapted to receive means for supporting the tube squeezing device to a wall, or the like. As shown in Figure 1, these means comprise two plastic rods 29 and 30 which extend through the apertures aforesaid. Plastic rod 29 has secured to one end thereof a vacuum cup 29a which is adapted to fit against a tile wall or the like. Likewise, plastic rod 30 has fastened to one end thereof, a suction cup 3011 which is adapted to fit against a tile wall or the like. The two suction cups 29a and 30a are together adapted to support the tube squeezing device, particularly against a tile wall, or the like. It is to be understood that the apertures through which the rods 29 and 30 fit are inclined from the horizontal so that the tube squeezing device will not slide therefrom.

While we hav shown suction cups 29a and 30a as the means to support the tube squeezing device against a tile wall or the like, it is to be understood that other means can be employed, for example wood screws, when it is desired to secure the device against a wooden wall, or the like.

Referring to Figure 3 of the drawing, we have shown the pivot pin 22 as being beveled at 22a.

This permits the tube squeezing member 20 to be engaged with the side walls It and Il, as by pushing tube squeezing member 20 between side walls [6 and I1 beveled pivot pins 22 and 23 spread side walls It and I1 apart suificiently for pins 22 and 23 to drop into pivot pin apertures I8 and [9.

Referring to Figure 2 of the drawing, we have shown the sealed end 251) of the collapsible tube 25 positioned in recess I4 disposed in the base plat II. This is an important feature of the present inventioiras it provides a means of looking the sealed end of the tube in the tube squeezer device, by the cooperation of the recessed portion l4 and the surface of the rounded enlarged portion 2! of the tube squeezing member 20.

In operation of the tube squeezer device after it has been suitably secured to a wall or the like, the collapsible tube 25 is placed in inverted upright position in the tube squeezing device by placing the sealed end 2512 thereof in the recessed portion Id of the base plate II. The sealed end of the tube 251) is then looked into position by means of the rounded portion 2| of the tube squeezing member 20. The closure cap 25a of the tube 25 is positioned in the aperture 2! disposed in the end wall 26. The closure cap 25a is removed from the tube 25 when it is desired to dispense the paste within the tube 25. Upon removal of closure cap 25a, the tube squeezing member 20 is pressed slightly at the end thereof nearest to the sealed end 25b of tube 25. This causes dispensing of the paste from tube 25 at the opened end thereof. As the contents of the tube become less, the tube squeezing member 20 works its way down over the area of the tube 25 until the tube is substantially fiat and lies between the base plate II and the tube squeezing member 20. The curved portion 24 of the tube squeezing member 20 is adapted to contact the tube 25 near the dispensing end thereof so that substantially all the paste is squeezed from said tube 25. This squeezing of the last remains from th tube 25 is aided by the independent lengthwise move- -ment permitted the tube squeezing member 20 because of the fact that the apertures I8 and [9 are substantially larger in area than the pivot pins which pivotally support the tube squeezing member 20. The fact that the aperture 21 in the end wall 26 is substantially larger in area than the closure cap 25a of the collapsible tube 25 also permits the greater efficient operation of the tube squeezing member 20 in expressing the paste from the tube 25.

Various modifications of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A squeezer device for collapsible tubes consisting of, a base plate, two oppositely disposed side walls extending from said base plate, said side walls each being apertures, an elongated tube squeezing member running lengthwise of said base plate and overlying the same when in closed position, said tube squeezing member being provided at one end thereof with a rounded portion having pivot pins extending from the opposite sides thereof for engagement in the apertures in said side walls so that said tube squeezing member is adapted for pivotal movement, said apertures being larger than said pivot pins to permit said tube squeezing member to have some lengthwise movement, the ends of each of said pivot pins being beveled to aid in engaging the pivot pins to the side walls, the other end of said tube squeezing member being curved away from said base plate, said base plate being provided with a recessed portion underlying the rounded portion of said tube squeezing member, said base plate having an end wall extending therefrom, said end wall being apertured to receive the closure cap of a tube therethrough, said base plate being apertured at the end thereof opposite said end wall, said apertures extending through said base plate at an angle from the perpendicular, means engaging through said apertures in said base plate to secure tube squeezer device to a support.

2. A squeezer device for collapsible tubes comprising, an elongated supporting member for supporting thereon a collapsible tube and having apertures therein at one end thereof elongated in the direction of the length of the supporting member, an elongated tube squeezing member running lengthwise of said supporting member and overlying the same when in closed position and having a rounded portion at one end thereof, pivot elements on the rounded end portion of the tube squeezing member and received by said apertures, said supporting member being provided with a recess underlying the rounded portion of the tube squeezing member and adapted to receive the sealed end of the collapsible tube so that the rounded portion of the tube squeezing member will bear against the sealed end of the tube to hold the tube in position on'the supporting member, said supporting member having a base extending therefrom at the end thereof opposite to said apertures and being apertured to receive the dispensing end portion of the tube therethrough, said tube squeezing member adapted to swing against the tube to express the contents from the dispensing end of the tube and adapted to be held initially in elevated position by the full portion of the tube which is adjacent the sealed end of the tube so that the pivot elements will be initially disposed in the upper portions of their apertures and will gradually move downward therein due to the rolling action of the rounded portion of the squeezing member as the contents of the tube are used to compensate for the retreat of the free end of the tube squeezing member from the dispensing end of the tube due to the swinging movement of the tube squeezing member about the pivot elements as an axis so that the free end of the tube squeezing member will wipe across the dispensing end of the tube to express the last portion of the contents of the tube.

3. A squeezer device for collapsible tubes comprising, a base plate, two oppositely disposed side walls extending from said base plate, said side walls each being apertured, an elongated tube squeezing member running lengthwise of a major portion of said base plate and overlying the same when in closed position, said tube squeezing member being provided at one end thereof with a rounded portion having pivot pins extending from the opposite sides thereof for engagement in the apertures in said side walls so that said tube squeezing member is adapted for pivotal movement, said apertures in said side walls being larger than said pivot pins to permit said tube squeezing member to have some lengthwise movement, said tube squeezing member adapted to swing against the tube to express the contents from the dispensing end of the tube and adapted to be held in elevated position by the full portion of the tube which is adjacent the sealed end of the tube so that the pivot elements will be initially disposed in the upper portions of their apertures and will gradually move downwardly therein due to the rolling action of the rounded portion of the squeezing member as the contents of the tube are used to compensate for the retreat of the free end of the tube squeezing member from the disposing end of the tube due to the swinging movement of the tube squeezing member about the pivot elements as an axis so that the free end of the tube squeezing member will wipe across the dispensing end of the tube to express the last portion of the contents of the tube, said tube squeezing member being curved at the other end thereof away from said base plate, said base plate being provided with a recessed portion underlying the rounded portion of said tube squeezing member, and adapted to receive the sealed end of a collapsible tube so that the tube will be held on said base plate, said base plate having an end wall extending therefrom, said end wall being apertured to receive the closure cap of a tube therethrough, said base plate being apertured at the end thereof opposite said end wall to receive means adapted to support the tube squeezer device. and said apertures extending through said base plate at an angle from the perpendicular.

4. A squeezer device for collapsible tubes comprising an elongated tube supporting member, an elongated tube squeezing member running lengthwise of a major portion of said member, pivot means between said members comprising a slot elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said supporting member for permitting said squeezing member to have longitudinal movement with respect to said supporting member, means on said members cooperating at all times for holding the collapsible tube against said supporting member comprising a recessed portion on said supporting member adjacent the pivotal connection between said members and adapted to receive the sealed end of the tube, and a rounded portion on said squeezing member adjacent the pivotal connection between said members and adapted at all times to engage the sealed end of the tube and to urge it into engagement with said recessed portion.

5. A squeezer device for collapsible tubes comprising a tube supporting member, a rigid tube squeezing member running lengthwise of a major portion of said tube supporting member, pivot means between said members comprising a slot elongated in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said supporting member for permitting said squeezing member to have longitudinal movement with respect to said supporting member, means on said members cooperating at all times for holding the collapsible tube against said supporting member comprising a recessed portion on said supporting member and adapted to receive the sealed end of the tube, and a rounded portion on said squeezing member, said portions being opposed to one another at all times so that said rounded portion will at all times engage the sealed end of the tube and frictionally bind it between said portions.

WILLIAM JOHN CHAPMAN. WARREN EMANUEL REITZ.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS Number Name Date 1,320,275 Roach Oct. 28, 1919 1,507,464 Clegg Sept. 2, 1924 1,760,945 Grigsby June 3, 1930 2,148,321 Oplinger Feb. 21, 1939 2,260,346 Spencer Oct. 28, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 810,446 France Dec. 28, 1936 

